# Ready or Not - Working Baseline Configuration

## ✅ Confirmed Working Setup

### Successful Configuration (Baseline)
- **Proton Version**: Proton 9.25 (or latest experimental)
- **Launch Mode**: Safe mode (no mods)
- **Launch Options**: Basic (testing DX11 next)
- **Game State**: Successfully loaded mission
- **Date Tested**: 2025-08-13

### Key Findings
1. **Game reinstall was necessary** - Previous installations may have had corrupted files
2. **Proton 9.25 works** - Newer versions are actually better for this game
3. **Safe mode bypasses mod conflicts** - Important for initial testing
4. **Anti-cheat handling** - Game ran without explicit `-noeac` in working test

## Next Test: DX11 Configuration

### DX11 Test Setup
- **Proton Version**: Keep Proton 9.25 
- **Launch Options**: `%command% -dx11`
- **Expected**: Should work since baseline works

### If DX11 Test Succeeds

We can then move to STL with these working parameters:
- Base Proton: Proton 9.25 equivalent (likely GE-Proton10-11)
- Game Arguments: `-dx11` (and add `-noeac` if needed)
- Graphics: Start with DXVK (not WineD3D since newer Proton works)
- Features: Can enable GameScope, DLSS, etc. gradually

### If DX11 Test Fails

We know the baseline works, so we can:
- Use basic Proton 9.25 without DX11 override
- Still move to STL but avoid DirectX version forcing
- Focus on performance optimizations instead

## STL Configuration Strategy

Once we confirm DX11 status, create STL config based on:

```bash
# Working baseline settings
USEPROTON="GE-Proton10-11"  # Equivalent to Proton 9.25
GAMEARGS="-dx11"            # If DX11 test succeeds
USEGAMEMODERUN="1"         # Performance
USEGAMESCOPE="1"           # 1440p gaming
DXVK_ASYNC="1"             # Since newer Proton works
PROTON_ENABLE_NVAPI="1"    # NVIDIA features
USEDLSS="1"                # RTX 4080 SUPER optimization
```

## Lessons Learned

1. **Game reinstall solved fundamental issues**
2. **Newer Proton versions work better than expected**
3. **Start simple and build up complexity**
4. **Safe mode is important for initial testing**
5. **Previous configurations may have been interfering**